Do Gas Fireplaces Need A Chimney?

It doesn’t matter if you have a gas fireplace, gas stove, or gas log set in your home, or if you are considering investing in one.

Either way, you will probably be wondering if they need the same ventilation as alternative wood burning options, and this is something that is really important for you to be aware of. 

You might have noticed that other gas appliances do not require any ventilation or chimneys, but can this be applied to gas fireplaces?

The answer to this is it depends on what type of gas fireplace you have or are thinking of getting.

There are lots of things to consider when it comes to the safety of gas fireplaces, and ventilation is one of these things.

We are going to tell you everything that you need to know about the different types of gas fireplaces and their ventilation requirements in this article.

This will help you to figure out what kind of ventilation you need, if any at all, so you can use your gas fireplace safely and efficiently.

Do Gas Fireplaces Need A Chimney?

Whether or not your gas fireplace needs a chimney will depend on the type of gas fireplace that you purchase. Each type of fireplace will require different types of ventilation, or they may not require any at all. 

Standard Gas Stove

A standard gas stove will typically need a chimney or flue. Due to the fact that gas does not produce any heavy smoke like a wood burning fireplace, you would not have to get a class 1 brick chimney. However, they can be used.

You will more than likely need a class 2 prefabricated chimney to help ventilate your standard gas fireplace. The manufacturer should provide you with details on the size diameter chimney that is needed. 

Balanced Flue Gas Fireplace

If you do not have a chimney, then you might want to consider a balanced flue gas fireplace. These types of gas fireplaces will not require you to have an existing chimney.

Instead, you will need to install a special type of flue, which is called a balanced flue. Some types of balanced flue gas fireplaces will come with the needed parts, but others will require you to purchase them separately.

Most of the time, installing a balanced flue is easy, and they can be fit horizontally through almost any external wall.

If you only have internal wall space to place your fireplace against, then you may still be able to fit one, but it will require more work.

Flueless Gas Stoves

There is one more type of gas fireplace that is available, and this is the flueless gas fireplace.  As you might have guessed from the title, you do not need a chimney or flue with this type of fireplace.

Instead of the fumes being vented through a chimney, this type of fireplace will feature a catalytic converter that will turn such fumes into safe gasses. They will then be filtered back into the room.

However, these types of fireplaces do have some extra requirements. You will need a room that is at least 40m3 in size, a permanent air vent that is at least 1m away from the stove, and at least one other heat source in the room, like a radiator. You will also need a window in the room that can be opened to the outside.

How To Vent A Gas Fireplace Without A Chimney

This is a specific type of fireplace does not require the use of a chimney, which is very convenient.

Installing a chimney can be very expensive, and this option eliminated these additional costs. 

Ventless fireplaces will be powered by either gas or propane, and if you do not have a chimney, then this is the ideal solution.

You will be able to have a fire within your home without the added work and expense that comes with adding a chimney to your house. 

The only thing that you will need to install in order for a ventless gas fireplace to work is a gas or propane line. This is something that will need to be done by a gas or plumbing contractor to ensure that it is done both safely and correctly. 

Once you have successfully installed your ventless gas fireplace, you can enjoy the warmth and comfort of a fire without having to worry about ventilation.

Although, there are some downsides of these types of fire. They can lead to excess moisture within your home, which is a mold risk.

Do I Need A Flue Liner For My Gas Fireplace?

If you are buying a gas stove that requires the use of a flue or chimney, then you might be wondering if you need to get a flue liner for it.

If you are using the balanced flue type of fireplace, then you do not need a flue liner. However, if you have a regular gas stove, then you might want to consider getting a flue liner.

Something that you might not have known is that there is a legal requirement that states that your working chimney should be in good repair, with no cracks, leaks or other types of damage that would compromise its safety.

While a flue liner does not mean that you should stop maintaining your chimney, it can offer you a great added safety precaution. 

It is possible for gas fireplaces to cause deadly carbon monoxide leaks, and a flue liner will help to ensure that you are as protected as possible.

Although, when you are purchasing a flue liner, you will need to ensure that it is suitable for the type of fuel that you are burning.

Flexible stainless steel flue liners are typically the easiest and best to install as they come in a few different grades. You will just need to check that the one that you are buying can be used with gas.